antimony - Sciencemadness.org

168 THE METALLURGY OF ANTIMONY.
(J3) When 8 parts of the oxide are melted with 4 parts of the
sulphide, the resulting product has a dark-brown colour, and is known
as foie d'antimoine.
(y) Antimonite of lead.—This is prepared by treating 50 parts
of metallic antimony with 20 parts of concentrated sulphuric acid,
thereby obtaining sulphate of antimony. This salt is heated until
the evolution of acid fumes has ceased, and is then calcined in a
crucible with 21 parts of dry carbonate of soda, with the production
of antimonious acid. The fused material is boiled in water, and the
solution is decomposed by neutral acetate of lead. The precipitate
obtained is antimonite of lead, which can be collected on a filter-cloth
and then dried upon bricks in a stove-room heated to 60° C.
(8) Antimonate of lead is thus prepared:—A mixture of 1 part of
antimony sulphide and 5 parts of nitrate of potash is deflagrated in
a red-hot crucible, or upon the bed of a reverberatory furnace. The
calcined product is dissolved in boiling water, and the solution thus
obtained is decomposed by neutral acetate of lead. The precipitate
is then washed and dried. The antimonate of lead thus obtained is
white and heavy, and possesses a certain body.
(c) Kennes.—Its colour is brownish yellow. It can be prepared
thus:—
Dry Method.—In a crucible is melted a mixture of 5 parts of antimony
sulphide and 3 parts of dry carbonate of soda. The mass,
after complete cooling, is treated with 80 parts of boiling water.
Wet Method.—Boil, for three-quarters of an hour, 1 part of
pulverised antimony sulphide with 22 parts of dry carbonate* of
soda, in 250 parts of water.
3. Medicine.
Antimony, by itself, cannot produce any effect upon the human
system, but only as a salt capable of being decomposed by the
fluids of the body, especially in the tartarised form, which,.being
the most soluble, has properly*superseded other forms. According
to Orfila, Flandin, Danger, and Milon, the solutions of antimony salts
rapidly permeate the animal system and are readily eliminated with
the urine. Under certain circumstances the salts of antimony contained
in the solutions are deposited in the tissues, especially in the
liver, the spleen, and the kidneys.
Several doctors, such as Navies, Van der Bosch, Hahnemann,
Strack, Philip, have recommended the use of the salts of antimony in
the treatment of colic induced by lead paint.